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Latin 1A
Magistra Kelleher
Historical Figures #5: The Gracchi
Rome entered the later part of the 2nd Century BC as a prosperous
growing empire. It had conquered Carthage and taken control of Spain
and Northern Africa as a result of the Punic Wars. It had also conquered
in the east and taken control of Macedon and Greece. Rome had quickly
become a wealthy and powerful empire, but with great growth came a
new variety of difficulties. An influx of foreign slaves captured through
military conquest left many poor Roman citizens unemployed. Wealthy
landowners began take over the farms of poorer farmers leaving them
unemployed as well. Soldiers who returned from war expected to be given
their own farmland, but while they awaited their land grants, they too
were unemployed. Huge crowds swarmed to Rome looking for the
politicians to alleviate the troubles.
In 133 BC Tiberius Gracchus was elected “tribune of the plebs”.
Tiberius was an aristocrat, the grandson of Scipio Africanus, who became
the hero of the poor people. The tribunes were the representatives of the
plebs (poor people) who had the powers to veto laws of the Senate and
propose new laws. This office was designed to protect the plebs, but it also
gave the tribune sway over the masses of Rome. Tiberius stated that he
recognized the plight of the unemployed peasants. On a trip through Italy
he had seen the great numbers of people suffering from losing their land
and he wanted to help them. Tiberius’ solution was for Rome to grant
small tracts of newly conquered land to the poor rather than giving it in
mass to the aristocracy. The people loved Tiberius’ plan, but the Senate
and the aristocracy hated it and accused Tiberius of using this plan to gain
glory and take over the Roman state. The Senate did many things to thwart
Tiberius’ plan and stated that he had overstretched his powers as tribune
because it was the Senate’s job to allot land. The Senate planned to wait
out Tiberius and bring him to trial when his one year term ended. Tiberius
shocked everyone by choosing to run for reelection. Since politicians were
only supposed serve for one year, the Senate feared that Tiberius was
hoping that the people would declare him king. During Election Day, a
riot broke out on the polling field. In the midst of the riot Tiberius
Gracchus was killed. This was the first time in many years that civil
violence had disrupted the Roman Republic, but the violence did not end
with the death of Tiberius
Ten years after the death of Tiberius Gracchus, his younger brother,
Gaius, a true revolutionary, was elected tribune of the plebs. Like his older
brother, Gaius fought for reforms that would benefit the plebians, and
anger the aristocracy. Unlike his brother, Gaius’ reforms dealt with more
than just land and he was more effective at pushing his reforms through.
He passed laws that kept the price of grain low, changed the jury system so
plebians could sit as jurors, and worked toward reforming the land
allotments. Gaius was a compelling orator and soon masses of people
crowded to hear him speak and proclaimed him a hero of the poor. He
also extended his sphere of influence outside of Rome by campaigning for
citizenship for Rome’s Italian allies. After a year in office Gaius
campaigned for and was successful in securing reelection as tribune.
Again this cased great worry for the aristocracy as they feared that Gaius
had too much power for one man. Soon after Gaius’ reelection in 122 BC,
a riot broke out in the streets and Gaius was killed.
Although both Gracchi brothers died before they could fully enact
their plans, their work as tribunes made clear to other Roman leaders that
controlling the people was a method for gaining power and glory. Leaders
in the coming years would also use to will of the people to help them gain
power and influence. The Gracchi also usher in the beginnings of unrest
in Rome and for the next hundred years the episodes of civil violence and
war will increase leading to the collapse of the Republic.